A Jesuit, a Dominican, and a Trappist monk were stranded on a deserted island. While foraging for food, they found an Aladdin's lamp. Rubbing it a genie appeared and said, "Usually the person who found me gets three wishes, but because three people found me, you get one wish each."
The Jesuit wished to teach in a great university. POUF -- he was gone!
The Dominican wished to preach in a grand cathedral. POUF -- gone!
The Trappist said, "Well, ... er ... ah... I just got my wish, already."
Christianity's largest ecumenical movement expressed hope Thursday that churches were moving closer to a common Easter for the world's Christians, despite a historical debate nearly as old as the religion.
Catholic and Protestant congregations will celebrate their belief in Jesus' resurrection on the same day as Orthodox churches in 2010 and 2011 because of a coincidence in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The common holiday has happened three times this decade.
But the World Council of Churches says consensus is emerging that these should not just be occasional occurrences.
At a recent meeting in Lviv, Ukraine, theologians representing nearly the breadth of Christianity agreed in principle on a strategy for all the faithful to continue observing their feast together.
"It's not a problem of principle, of dogma or of doctrine," said Juan Michel, spokesman for the council, whose 350 Protestant, Orthodox and other churches represent more than 560 million Christians. It cooperates with the Roman Catholic Church, which is not a member.
"It's more of a pastoral issue for some churches," said Michel. "There are concerns how the faithful will feel if there is a change in the traditional way of calculating the date."
The confusion over Easter's historical date arose in the early days of Christianity as the faith spread and different groups interpreted the four Gospels in different ways.
According to Matthew, Mark and Luke's Gospels, the last meal Jesus shared with his disciples was the Jewish Passover meal, while John's Gospel says that Jesus died on the feast of Passover itself.
Christianity's leading authorities first sought to establish a common date in 325 at the Council of Nicaea, determining it as the first Sunday after the full moon following the spring equinox.
The problem before the advent of modern astronomy was calculating the equinox. Orthodox churches use March 21 in the Julian calendar, but since the 16th century the Western date has been derived in the Gregorian calendar. The resulting difference can be up to five weeks apart.
The council said theologians from the Vatican and various Orthodox and Protestant churches endorsed a compromise on May 15 that Easter should be held for all Christians using an equinox based on accurate astronomical data.
Under the plan the unified Easter usually falls as it would under the Gregorian calendar used by Catholics and Protestants, said Dagmar Heller, an ecumenical professor in Switzerland heading the council's faith and order commission.
In the next 15 years, the only time Western churches would have to change Easter is in 2019 from April 21 to March 24. The bigger adjustment would be for the Orthodox Church, which has experienced several schisms in its history over the question of dates.
"There are of course some fundamentalist Orthodox who say 'The Julian calendar is our tradition and it was used in Jesus' lifetime so we cannot change,'" Heller said, adding that some Eastern theologians might fear more breaks in their church as a result of a date change.
"And, of course, it's an issue because the astronomical data is closer to the Gregorian calendar, which was introduced by a pope," she said, referring to Pope Gregory XIII's reform of the calendar in 1582. It only slowly replaced the calendar named for Julius Caesar, who introduced it in 46 B.C.
Some Orthodox representatives at the meeting appeared to back the plan. French Orthodox theologian Antoine Arjakovsky acknowledged that the astronomy was closer to the Gregorian calendar, but noted that Catholic and Protestant churches were also compromising by "accepting that the date of Easter should be established on the basis of a cosmic calendar rather than by a fixed date."
The Vatican was represented in Lviv by the Rev. Milan Zust, an official of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
Heller said the proposed Easter calculation would be discussed by higher level officials from different denominations.
Christian groups have been trying for a century to establish a common Easter. In the 1920s some proposed a fixed Sunday as the date, but others opposed losing the theological link of the first Easter with Passover — which Jews still celebrate according to a lunar calendar.
I often hear laments that the spirit of Vatican II is dead in the church. Is it not ironic that not a bishop but the President of the United States should today be the most effective spokesperson for that spirit? To judge from the enthusiastic response he received from the graduates at Notre Dame, his message captured their minds and hearts. Maybe through young Catholics like those at Notre Dame who are responding to Obama’s message the spirit of Vatican II will, almost through the back door, reenter the church. The history of the church has, after all, taken stranger turns than that.
I'm all about common ground, but the day I compromise my principles for prestige and political correctness will be a sad day indeed. Thankfully, my students have overwhelmingly, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, spoken of the insanity of inviting Obama in the first place. I think the Council Fathers are turning in their graves to hear of so many using their Spirit-inspired work to justify the most outlandish claims. The saints have sacrificed their lives for a lot less.
The beginning of the article is actually a lot better.
Finally, something more even-handed from America (after their "proposal" of a few weeks ago):
The well-known Miami priest Rev. Alberto Cutié, known as Padre Oprah, was recently forced to resign from his parish because of compromising photos of him with a woman on a beach. In a television interview he admitted to being involved with the woman for several years. He explained that he has been given time to come to a decision about remaining a priest. He believes celibacy is good, but that "maybe it should be optional.” He also does not want to be forced into the role of poster boy for opposition to mandatory celibacy.
A few weeks ago, the president of Paraguay, Fernando Lugo, admitted that he became the father of a child while serving as bishop of San Pedro. Several other women also claim that he fathered their children. Because Lugo was a Catholic bishop when he ran for office, he was thought by those who voted for him to be upright and trustworthy.
Church history includes similar scandals even at the level of the papacy. On the other hand, history also records faithfully married popes, like Pope Hormisdas (d. 523) and Pope Silverius (d. 537), who were father and son&ampampmdashand also saints. The Catholic Church has had married and unmarried popes, bishops and priests who all struggled by the grace of God to be faithful to their promises of celibacy or their marriage vows.
Instances of marital infidelity raise questions about the challenges and difficulties married people face, but they do not destroy the perennial value of the sacrament. Likewise, the abuses by Father Cutié and former Bishop Lugo reveal the fallen nature of human beings but are not an indictment of priestly celibacy.
Over at Mere Comments, an IRS employee comments on the do's and don'ts for non-profits (like churches) who have tax-exempt status:
Churches, like other non-profit organizations, fall under Sections 501(a) and 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code for tax purposes. Those provisions grant tax-exempt status to organizations meeting certain criteria as charitable concerns. In exchange for that privileged tax status, the organizations must meet certain standards of political non-partisanship. This is precisely to insure that the government does not abuse this status, with a given administration granting tax exempt status solely to those organizations that are its minions. All such organizations must meet the same criteria for disclosure of officers, income, expenditures, etc., to insure their genuineness and public transparency.
...
Next, the standards for political impartiality, and strictures on what churches and other non-profit organizations can say or do in the political arena, are far narrower than many people suppose. Roughly, the basic rule is: an organization may freely endorse any stand on any issue. What it may not do (whether explicitly or by clear implication) is endorse, or contribute money to support or oppose, a particular candidate or party by name.
So, for example, the Roman Catholic Church is absolutely free under its 501(a) or 501(c)(3) status to have bishops send out pastoral letters to be read from parish pulpits, advising the faithful that "life" issues such as abortion, euthanasia, ESCR, etc. are of paramount importance, and that RCs should vote in accordance with the teachings of the Church. What the RCC may not do is send out letters saying "a faithful RC must vote for [or against] McCain [or Obama]" , or, similarly "a faithful RC must vote for the Republican (or Democratic) Party." Likewise, the NCC can send out letters telling its members to vote on the basis of a "peace and justice" agenda to end immediately the war in Iraq, defend abortion, support gay marriage, etc.; but it too cannot tell its members to vote for Candidate A or Party X.
These restrictions are somewhat (not completely) similar to those regulating political activity by government employees under the Hatch Act. Government employees may, on their own time as private citizens, vote and work for partisan political campaigns. What they cannot do is use the government workplace, government resources, or their government positions for any partisan political activity (specific candidate or party). Likewise, clergy and members of churches may vote and work for partisan political campaigns. What they cannot do is use the workplace or resources of their non-profit organization, or their official position within it, for any partisan political activity (specific candidate or party).
According to a decree made public today and signed by Cardinal James Francis Stafford and Bishop Gianfranco Girotti, O.F.M. Conv., respectively penitentiary major and regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary, Benedict XVI will grant priests and faithful Plenary Indulgence for the occasion of the Year for Priests, which is due to run from 19 June 2009 to 19 June 2010 and has been called in honour of St. Jean Marie Vianney.
The period will begin with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, "a day of priestly sanctification", says the text, when the Pope will celebrate Vespers before the relics of the saint, brought to Rome for the occasion by the bishop of the French diocese of Belley-Ars. The Year will end in St. Peter's Square, in the presence of priests from all over the world "who will renew their faithfulness to Christ and their bonds of fraternity".
The means to obtain the Plenary Indulgence are as follows:
All truly penitent priests who, on any day, devotedly pray Lauds or Vespers before the Blessed Sacrament exposed to public adoration or in the tabernacle, and ... offer themselves with a ready and generous heart for the celebration of the Sacraments, especially the Sacrament of Penance, will be granted Plenary Indulgence, which they can also apply to their deceased confreres, if in accordance with current norms they take Sacramental Confession and the Eucharist and pray in accordance with the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. Priests are furthermore granted Partial Indulgence, also applicable to deceased confreres, every time they devotedly recite the prayers duly approved to lead a saintly life and to carry out the duties entrusted to them.
(B) All truly penitent Christian faithful who, in church or oratory, devotedly attend Holy Mass and offer prayers to Jesus Christ, supreme and eternal Priest, for the priests of the Church, or perform any good work to sanctify and mould them to His Heart, are granted Plenary Indulgence, on the condition that they have expiated their sins through Sacramental Confession and prayed in accordance with the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. This may be done on the opening and closing days of the Year of Priests, on the 150th anniversary of the death of St. Jean Marie Vianney, on the first Thursday of the month, or on any other day established by the ordinaries of particular places for the good of the faithful.
The elderly, the sick and all those who for any legitimate reason are unable to leave their homes, may still obtain Plenary Indulgence if, with the soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin and with the intention of observing, as soon as they can, the usual three conditions, "on the days concerned, they pray for the sanctification of priests and offer their sickness and suffering to God through Mary, Queen of the Apostles".
Partial Indulgence is offered to all faithful each time they pray five Our Father, Ave Maria and Gloria Patri, or any other duly approved prayer "in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to ask that priests maintain purity and sanctity of life".
Make sure this makes it into your parish bulletin!
A typically skeptical but very sincere student wrote this in response to Father Cutie's predicament (pardon the grammar and spelling... I won't correct it in order to maintain its original credibility):
i would like you to know that i am completely with the church on this one.( can you believe it!!!) Celibacy is something that he promised to do, if he didnt like it then he obviously should not have become a priest! i also think that celibacy is a good thing for priests it shows there devotion and gives them full concentration on there duties( this is one of the reasons i will never be a priest lol) Also dont you think its hilarious how his name is "Father Cutie" hahaha.... hilarious
In case you're wondering what we've been doing at the parish, here's a program listing.
Sunday, May 10 - Fifth Sunday of Easter
Organ Prelude: Ave Maria von Arcadelt (Liszt) Processional: At the Lamb's High Feast Preparation: Be Joyful, Mary (English version of the Regina Caeli) Mass parts: Mass of Redemption (with option D for the mem. acc.) Communion: Ave Maria (Arcadelt) & Magnificat (Chepponis) Recessional: All You On Earth
Both the Arcadelt and the Chepponis were beautiful today. Go choir!
St. Anne’s Church parishioners said a wooden crown of thorns has been stolen.
"I’m just befuddled," the Rev. Mark Bergeron told a Providence television station. "It’s hard to figure out who, what, why. It’s an odd thing to do."
Bergeron said the crown was not worth a lot of money, but had emotional value to the congregation.
The crown was sitting on a pillow next to a statue of Jesus when it apparently was taken last weekend.
This is a picture I took a few years ago. It's a life-sized statue and over a hundred years old. The crown itself is very precious. It fits the contours of the head perfectly. During my tenure it was broken twice (neither time by me) and we all pulled together to make sure it was properly repaired. To be perfectly honest, many of the employees and volunteers cried when it was broken because they were afraid it would never be fixed. The same lady fixed it both times and it had to be repainted because of the glue. It took her about three months each time because the work was so painstaking. It's funny to think that artists from Hasbro volunteered to paint it for us because one of our faithful volunteers worked there. Now it's gone!
Saint Anne's is locally famous for its annual Stations of the Cross on Good Friday night when the entire statue is taken down from the cross at the 13th station and carried through the church. The arms are on hinges so it looks like you're really taking a person down.
red years old. The crown itself is very precious. It fits the contours of the head perfectly. During my tenure it was broken twice (neither time by me) and we all pulled together to make sure it was properly repaired. To be perfectly honest, many of the employees and volunteers cried when it was broken because they were afraid it would never be fixed. The same lady fixed it both times and it had to be repainted because of the glue. It took her about three months each time because the work was so painstaking. It's funny to think that artists from Hasbro volunteered to paint it for us because one of our faithful volunteers worked there. Now it's gone!
